This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20150184

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
David Cameron faces tight EU budget freeze vote EU budget: Cameron in bitter clash with Miliband
(about 2 hours later)
David Cameron faces a knife-edge Commons vote over his EU budget policy after Labour said it would side with Tory rebels in a bid to defeat the PM. David Cameron has accused Ed Miliband of "rank opportunism" after the Labour leader decided to back Tory rebels in a key EU budget vote.
Mr Cameron has told other EU leaders the long-term budget should be frozen in real terms. But Mr Miliband said the PM was as "weak" as ex PM John Major on Europe - and accused him of "throwing in the towel" before budget talks had begun.
But dozens of Tory MPs have signed an amendment demanding a reduction. Mr Cameron wants a freeze in the budget but Tory rebels and Labour are demanding a real terms cut.
Now Labour have said they will back that amendment - which they say is in line with their own position on the EU budget. The PM is battling to avoid defeat in a Commons vote on the issue later.
In July, Labour tabled a motion calling for a real terms cut in the long-term EU budget and voted in favour of it. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said he would veto any deal on the EU's financial plans if he could not get a deal that was good for Britain.
MPs are due to debate the EU's 2014-2020 budget proposals in what is being seen as a test of Mr Cameron's authority on Europe. He said "at best" he would like to see the budget cut, and "at worst" frozen, but it was in the national interest to get a deal.
The decision by Labour leader Ed Miliband to back the Tory rebels increases the possibility that Mr Cameron will be defeated, although he is still thought likely to win any vote, as the Lib Dems and most Tory MPs will back him. 'Weak'
Downing Street said the final budget deal had to be "acceptable" to the UK. He accused the Labour leader of "rank opportunism" - and said voters would see through Mr Miliband's party political "posturing".
"He is playing politics, he is not serving the country," said Mr Cameron during a noisy session.
Mr Miliband said the prime minister "can't convince anyone on Europe", adding: "He has thrown in the towel even before these negotiations have begun.
"He can't convince European leaders, he can't even convince his own backbenchers. He is weak abroad, he is weak at home: It's John Major all over again."
The prime minister told Mr Miliband his position was "completely incredible".
Former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major saw his government broguht to its knees by a series of backbench rebellions on Europe during the early 1990s.
MPs are to debate the EU's 2014-2020 budget proposals later on Wednesday, in what is being seen as a test of Mr Cameron's authority on Europe.
Mr Miliband's decision to back the Tory rebels increases the possibility that Mr Cameron will be defeated, although he is still thought likely to win any vote, as the Lib Dems and most Tory MPs will back him.
Labour sought to justify its decision to vote with Eurosceptic Conservative rebels by saying their call for for a cut in the EU budget was in line with their own position and they had tabled a similar amendment themselves earlier this year.
Negotiations over the EU's next long-term budget, called the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), are taking shape amid calls from the UK and other nations for restraint at a time when many countries are pushing through unpopular domestic austerity measures.Negotiations over the EU's next long-term budget, called the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), are taking shape amid calls from the UK and other nations for restraint at a time when many countries are pushing through unpopular domestic austerity measures.
'Inappropriate''Inappropriate'
The European Commission has proposed a £826bn (1.025 trillion euros) budget ceiling for the period up to 2020, equivalent to 1.03% of EU gross national income (GNI). That is a 5% rise compared with the 2007-2013 budget.The European Commission has proposed a £826bn (1.025 trillion euros) budget ceiling for the period up to 2020, equivalent to 1.03% of EU gross national income (GNI). That is a 5% rise compared with the 2007-2013 budget.
Agreement must be reached by all member states and the European Parliament on a new deal.Agreement must be reached by all member states and the European Parliament on a new deal.
Mr Cameron has said any above-inflation increase in the budget would be inappropriate at a time when member nations were having to make tough spending decisions at home.Mr Cameron has said any above-inflation increase in the budget would be inappropriate at a time when member nations were having to make tough spending decisions at home.
He has said he would be prepared to veto any unacceptable proposal - budget decisions require the agreement of all 27 member states.He has said he would be prepared to veto any unacceptable proposal - budget decisions require the agreement of all 27 member states.
But some Conservative MPs want the UK to go further and demand a reduction in real-terms spending in future negotiations, starting at next month's EU council meeting.But some Conservative MPs want the UK to go further and demand a reduction in real-terms spending in future negotiations, starting at next month's EU council meeting.
The Tory rebels said they believed 40 to 60 of their colleagues would back the amendment.The Tory rebels said they believed 40 to 60 of their colleagues would back the amendment.
MPs who have already signed the rebel amendment include Zac Goldsmith, Bill Cash, John Redwood and Bernard Jenkin.MPs who have already signed the rebel amendment include Zac Goldsmith, Bill Cash, John Redwood and Bernard Jenkin.
Budget 'increases'
But, writing for the Conservativehome website, fellow Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom said the amendment was "wrong for Britain" as it did not focus on where money would actually be spent on a year-by-year basis.But, writing for the Conservativehome website, fellow Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom said the amendment was "wrong for Britain" as it did not focus on where money would actually be spent on a year-by-year basis.
"It won't produce the reform that British voters are looking for, and it could ironically result in higher cost to Britain's taxpayers, while damaging our scope for negotiations on the direction of expenditure," she said."It won't produce the reform that British voters are looking for, and it could ironically result in higher cost to Britain's taxpayers, while damaging our scope for negotiations on the direction of expenditure," she said.
Budget 'increases'
In 2011, the UK's net contribution to the EU budget was 7.25bn euros (£5.85bn; $9.4bn), after the UK's rebate of 3.56bn euros from the EU, according to data from the European Commission.In 2011, the UK's net contribution to the EU budget was 7.25bn euros (£5.85bn; $9.4bn), after the UK's rebate of 3.56bn euros from the EU, according to data from the European Commission.
Spending on agriculture and support for Europe's poorer regions - known as cohesion funds - account for about 80% of total proposed EU spending between 2014 and 2020.Spending on agriculture and support for Europe's poorer regions - known as cohesion funds - account for about 80% of total proposed EU spending between 2014 and 2020.
MEPs want spending levels for those major budget items to be at least maintained at the 2007-2013 level but also want "significant increases" in budgets for competitiveness, small business, sustainable infrastructure and research and innovation.MEPs want spending levels for those major budget items to be at least maintained at the 2007-2013 level but also want "significant increases" in budgets for competitiveness, small business, sustainable infrastructure and research and innovation.
EU leaders will hold a budget summit on 22 and 23 November. If no agreement is reached by the end of next year, the 2013 budget will be rolled into 2014 with a 2% rise to account for inflation.EU leaders will hold a budget summit on 22 and 23 November. If no agreement is reached by the end of next year, the 2013 budget will be rolled into 2014 with a 2% rise to account for inflation.